Sri Lanka

4-minute film on the rule of law in Sri Lanka and IBAHRI fact-finding report, 2013

Sri Lanka: IBAHRI calls for protection of lawyers following death threatsNews release: 19 September 2014 - The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on the Sri Lankan government to take immediate measures to protect the independence of the legal profession in Sri Lanka, following concerns at an escalation of intimidation against lawyers and civil society members working on human rights and rule of law issues. In particular, the IBAHRI calls on the relevant authorities to undertake swift and transparent investigations into the reported death...

Sri Lanka: IBAHRI calls for increased vigilance from international community following UN Resolution News release: 1 April 2014 - With the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) having voted to open an international investigation into alleged war crimes by both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the final stages of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls for increased vigilance by the international community following an escalation in threats to human rights defenders.

Sri Lanka, Making Commonwealth values a reality, November 2013The day before the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo Sri Lanka the IBAHRI held a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss ‘Making Commonwealth Values a Reality’. The press conference was held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, following the revocation of visas by the Sri Lankan authorities for IBAHRI speakers to attend a jointly organised conference with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in Colombo.

IBAHRI Commonwealth Conference in Sri Lanka cancelled News release: 13 November 2013 - Following the Sri Lankan authorities’ action last week of revoking visas for speakers of an International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) delegation to attend the conference ‘Making Commonwealth Values a Reality’, the event has now been cancelled.

Sri Lanka denies entry to IBAHRI delegation for the second time, ahead of major Commonwealth summit News release: Thursday 7 November 2013 - Entry to Sri Lanka has been denied to participants of an International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) high-level delegation which includes the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul, and the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Param Cumaraswamy. The group has had its visas revoked officially, or de facto, notwithstanding the public assurance from Sri Lanka...

Sri Lanka fact-finding, 2013Following the suspension of visas by the Sri Lankan authorities for an IBAHRI delegation to visit Sri Lanka, the IBAHRI conducted a remote mission to investigate the impeachment of Chief Justice Bandaranayake and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth urged to reassess Sri Lanka’s suitability to host CHOGM and assume ChairNews release: 24 April 2013 - At a panel discussion to launch the new International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) report, A Crisis of Legitimacy: The Impeachment of Chief Justice Bandaranayake and the Erosion of the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka, panellist Sadakat Kadri said, ‘Sri Lanka is due to be holding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, in Colombo in November 2013...

Sri Lanka facing constitutional crisis concludes IBAHRI reportNews release: 28 March 2013 - The removal from office in Sri Lanka of Chief Justice Bandaranayake was unlawful, is undermining public confidence in the rule of law, and threatening to eviscerate the country’s judiciary as an independent guarantor of constitutional rights states the Executive Summary of an International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) report released today.

Forced postponement of IBAHRI high-level delegation visit to Sri LankaNews release: 1 February 2013 - An International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) delegation has been forced to postpone a planned visit to Sri Lanka to assess the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary due to the last minute withdrawal of permission to enter the country.

Gradual erosion of judicial independence in Sri Lanka concerns IBAHRI News release: 2 June 2011 - The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is concerned about the increasing erosion of judicial independence in Sri Lanka. In a confidential letter, dated 19 May 2011, the IBAHRI outlined its concerns to the Government of Sri Lanka in regard to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and the proposed 19th Amendment – which limits the term of the Chief Justice to five years and gives the President of Sri Lanka the authority to appoint the Secretary to...

Sri Lanka fact-finding, 2009In the final week of February 2009, the IBAHRI sent a high level delegation to Sri Lanka to examine the independence of the judiciary and lawyers. A report detailing the findings and recomendations of the mission was subsequently released.

Sri Lanka fact-finding, 2001In 2001, the IBAHRI sent a delegation to Sri Lanka to meet with the Bar Association, representatives of the media, judges, academics and politicians. The focus of the mission was to identify the circumstances surrounding the calling of a referendum on the Constitution and assess its implications for the rule of law, a subsequent report was released.